Weeks 3-4 with Kyle

Weeks 3-4

Since I was about 10 years old, I was the one to decorate our house with Christmas lights outside and some if not most of the inside decorations.  However, this year with a new house and a newborn I am saddened to say that I have not done a good job of doing either!  Jon and Allie attempted to put lights outside and although there are lights up, half of them are still not working and we are surrounded by houses that look awesome!  I know I have to let it go, but it's just such a big part of me that it is hard!  Inside we at least have the main tree up and Allie's tree (both of which the lights would not work and required restringing) and her stocking and a handful of decorations.  But overall, it looks pretty sad!  I have not even been able to put the boys' tree up...

My mom helping Allie decorate her tree upstairs.  And there are lots of new ballerina and cupcake ornaments this year on it!

Allie wanted to hold Kyle and then she said "Don't you want to take my picture?" Hahaahaa! Supposedly the second child does not have as many pictures as the first, but I think with our IPhone we will have more of him than I do of Allie!  In fact, I know I do already!

Jon's cousin Jen made this hat for Kyle!! I wish we had more cold weather so he could wear it more!

Week 4

We had our second annual Christmas party at Alicia's new house (they moved in over Thanksgiving and the whole place was already perfect!).  This was Kyle's first party and he slept through the thing!  It was a lot of fun to hang out with such great friends and enjoy the Christmas season!

Allie, Meagan, Audrey, and Kirsten having some girl time!

All the kids (minus Kyle)  and Good thing for Blake that Kyle will help even out the boy/girl ratio! 

The hubbies

And of course the girls!!!  Later that week, we went out for a girl's dinner and gift exchange!  It was my first time out without Kyle and Jon did great watching him!  Last year, Bonnie's littlest girl; Kampbell was only weeks old and now this year, Kyle was only 2 weeks old!

Allie had two programs at school and the first day she was dressed as Mary and  did such a great job!  It was really cute and what was even cuter was all the parents and grandparents with cameras, videos, and IPhone taking a million pictures!  And Jon was one of them and it was SUPER cute!

Family picture!

Allie's class the second program day.  This time she was an angel (red dress on right).  I also attempted nursing in public for the first time with Kyle...  Let's just say we survived and won't be trying that again for awhile!  HA!

Napping in his crib!  He has actually had  several nights of 5 hours straight between feedings.  Of course they are preceded by marathon feedings!  (that actually started when he was a couple days old of feeding a lot then sleeping a lot!)

Both daddy and Kyle napping!  I have to have Jon get him to sleep a lot of the time and he is good at it!     This is Kyle at 4 weeks and he looks like a little man!!  He has always been so alert and aware of things and it seems like he can already look at you right in the eyes and track you.  Not like most newborns!

 

Allie wearing her Christmas outfits...  Have to wear them as much as possible before she outgrows them!  Which by the way, half of her pants this year are way too short and I had to go out and by new ones so she would not have high waters!  I have to remember that she will be 4 in less than 2 months!

Memories of 3-4 weeks

Umbilical cord fell off. loves taking a bath. the constant diaper changing has slowed down and diaper malfunction has stopped. (Pampers did not work for him) Being sick and trying to make sure he didn't get sick.  Being so excited that he made it 5 hours before feeding again.  Realizing that I have no problem with milk supply this time around.  He started to get baby acne all over his face and head. Hauling him around everywhere in the car seat because of big sister.  First grocery store trip with both kids and surviving!  Having Jon walk him around the house to get him back to sleep in the middle of the night after I tried for over an hour (several nights).  His squirming and grunting until he became free if I tried to swaddle him. Realizing that I have the sweetest  little boy ever and thankfully he is an easy baby so far!

First 2 weeks with Kyle

Week 1

The first week the adrenaline was still racing through my body after delivery, so tiredness did not kick in yet!  Which was nice because it gave me a chance to figure things out!!!  HA ha!  It was such a relief to finally have Kyle born and perfectly healthy!  We were so excited for Allie to meet her little brother and for him to actually "live with us" as she has only had brothers who lived in heaven.  The first day home my sweet friend Alicia picked Allie up from Mother's Day Out, which she has been doing for me this fall  (and was a HUGE HELP), and she got to meet Kyle.  Allie was so excited to be able to hold him that afternoon!

My  two little pumpkins! Doesn't Allie look smitten with him!  

I love this Zaky (the hand) because it makes him feel like i am holding him the whole time!  Not that  i don't want to 24/7, but it makes life easier if I don't have to!

For some reason during the first 2 weeks, Kyle would cover his face when he ate!

 On friday, we had to take him to the Dr. to have his jaundice checked.  He looked good!  His weight was down to 7.12lbs 4 days after being born, but since he was doing lots of cluster feedings, he was OK! We could let him sleep at night and just make sure during the day he ate at least every 3 hours.

 looks a little yellow here!

Later that day, my good friend Allison and her kids came over to meet him.  And on Saturday, my old college roommate, Samantha, came over but I forgot to get a picture!

 Changing his clothes-  I guess he decided it was too bright for him!

 On Saturday, we had Kyle's newborn photos done and they turned out super!!  My friend from grade school even came to help out our photographer (she is also a photographer) so we got two of the best people doing his pictures! (will post those later)  ALlie did a great job coloring and staying occupied when she was not in the pictures!  At first, they could not get Kyle to go back to sleep and had to keep putting the pacifer in his mouth, but after a 3 hour session, he did great!

 Then he was worn out from the day!  But looks so sweet!!!

 Luckily for Kyle, we had some very warm days which allowed me to bring him outside for several tanning sessions to get rid of the jaundice! (don't worry, he was only in the sun for a couple minutes each time!)

2 Weeks

I LOVE his picture of Kyle!

 just hanging out!

 We had Thanksgiving at our house this year (that post to follow) and it was so fun for everyone to meet Kyle!  Here is Grandpa with Kyle as we didn't get any photos of him at the hospital with him.  My dad has been helping out so much lately during his off time and has been a huge help especially since he will play with Allie and keep her entertained!

 Nana and Kyle!

Check out those feet!  He has already outgrown all newborn stuff at 2 weeks!

After the first week of Kyle being home, Allie started having night terrors!  At first, we had no idea what was going on, but after several of them in a row we did some research and realized that for the most part she was still asleep and not to try to wake her! So not only does it take over an hour sometimes to get her to calm down to go to sleep, but now she will wake up sometimes several times a night with those!  Some nights, I think I have the easier jon with Kyle as Jon takes care of Allie!  No needless to say she is tired a lot of the time and can't settle down long enough to take a nap...

So of course what should happen after that first week...?  We get sick!  My immune system was worn down from the antibiotics in the hospital and not getting much sleep those first few days and Allie got something from school and being tired.  I had not been sick or to the Dr.in almost 2 years, and Allie has not had to go either since her 3 yr. check up. Luckily, we were able to kick it after about 4 days and Kyle didn't seem to be bothered by it!

Our first dinner out with Kyle!  My parents took Allie to dinner, so I thought it would be a good time to go out as well!

 Allie got to go see the Nutcracker with my parents because my niece Julia was playing Clara in it!  Allie LOVES ballet and she did super sitting through the whole thing and watching it!  This was her second live ballet show and I think there will be several more in store for her!

 Trying out the Moby wrap!  He hates to be swaddled, so I am not sure if he will like this!  It is actually very comfortable though once you get it on!

 I LOVE all the faces that he makes!
Memories of the first 2 weeks:  LOTS of diaper/clothing changes because of diaper malfunctions and him getting wet every couple of hours!  Being peed and pooped on by him several times!  Realizing that he is a super  and quick eater and he has no problems nursing or taking a bottle!  Having to take him in the carseat a lot more than I ever did with Allie at this age!  I already had to move the straps up one on the carseat.  Being happy that I was getting  4 hour intervals at night with him, but not happy that it took over an hour to get him back to sleep at night.  2 week Dr. check up and he had already grown an inch and gained more than a pound in a week (22.2 inches and 9lbs) and the Dr. was very impressed at that and also how alert and aware he was!  Allie asking everyone if they wanted to "Pet" her baby brother and how proud she was to be a big sister! Jon holding him like a pro and not being afraid of "a newborn"!  Loving how he stays bunched up when I pick him up and all the fun faces he makes when he yawns and stretches!

I do love this little man!  SO thrilled and blessed that he is SO healthy and so far such an easy baby!  I am trying to cherish all the sweet newborn things about him -even at 2 in the morning!  There are times when I catch myself wondering how it would have been with twins and how we would have done that.  I also wonder a lot what they would have looked like as they grew, but mostly it seems like a whole different life and somehow very far removed from me right now.  Thank you God, for allowing us to have Kyle and letting us be his parents here on earth!

 Night terrors